Judge Nixes Case Vs. Houston Police Chief

Published 7:00 pm, Wednesday, January 22, 2003

A judge tossed out perjury charges against the Houston police chief Thursday, agreeing with defense attorneys that prosecutors had failed to prove their case.

District Judge Brian Rains said prosecutors had not proved Chief Clarence Bradford lied during an administrative hearing about his use of profanity with subordinates. The charge carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison.

Bradford, who has been chief of the nation's fourth-largest city since 1996, had maintained he had no reason to lie.

The testimony came at a disciplinary hearing for another officer, Capt. Mark Aguirre, and it was later contradicted by another police official who said he was called a vulgar name by the chief.

J.L. Breshears, the police department's executive assistant chief, testified that was "surprised, shocked even" when the chief said he hadn't cursed him and two other officers in late 2000 for failing to provide adequate safety for Mayor Lee Brown's family.

Bradford had been suspended with pay and temporarily surrendered his badge and his gun while under indictment.